Humidifier



Patented Mar. 12, 1940 Hummm/Inn Ralph c. Kocher, rrnmscldarowa, v Application october is, 19st, serial No. zeae i i zvoiaims. (el. 2er- 407) This invention `relates to a humidiiier designedv primarily for use in incubatore, or places wherehumidier wherein the amount of humidity may be regulated at the will ofv the operator to thel end that an accurate amount of humidity may be added to the air for the efficient operation of the device with which the humidier is used.

With'the foregoing and other objects in View, v

which will appear as the 'description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of con-j struction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may

be made within the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention. i Referring to the drawing; l Figure 1 is an elevational View of an incubator, the central portion thereof being broken away to illustrate the humidifier andfan used in l connection therewith. K 5- Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the humidier, disclosing the fabric material as i extended under the pressure of the air from the fan.

' Figure 3 is a `transverse sectional View taken right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail View4 through the fabric clamping member. Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates the body portion or cabinet of an incubator of well lmown construction. The humidier, forming the essence of the present invention, includes a shallow pan indicated generally by the reference character 6, the pan being supported within the central portion of the cabinet 5, as clearly shown by Figure l of the drawing, as by means of the brackets l which are suspended from the ceilingof the compartment 8 of the incubator. Thus it will be seen that due to this method of supporting the pan 6, the pan may be readily and easily removed and replaced, should it be desired to clean or repair the pan.

itself readily to capillary attraction.

The reference character@ designates a rod that extends across the bottom of the pan 6, in spaced relation therewith, and this rod provides means for connecting one end of the plate IU to the bottom of the pan 6. f

The plate lll is shown as having one end thereof extended upwardly as at il to restrict movement of the plate with respect to the rod El,v while the opposite end of the plate is` bent upwardly as atl to fit under the keeper l 3 that is secured to i one end of the pan.

V Openings Hl are punched from the Aplate lll, portionsof the material of which theplate is constructed, adjacent `to y the openings being forced outwardly, providing yspurs i5. I'hese spurs i5 arepressed against the length of cloth material indicated at I6, and which ispositiond within the pan, under the plate lll, to secure the cloth material against movement underthe'plate it. erably of terry cloth material Abecause of the'na- The cloth material Iii is constructed prefture of this particular vtype of cloth which lends As clearly shown by Figure 2.01c the drawing, the length of cloth material I6 is such4 that. it

able distances, so that the extended ends'of the cloth i6 will be engaged by the air directed up- 25 y extends beyond the sides lof the pan. B, appreciwardlyto the fan and cloth material, from thel fan il supported at the bottom of the compartment 8. l

Water is supplied directly'onto tiiepiat lo, in drops, from the pipe I8, which has its upper end extending into the pan i9 that providesthe supply tank for the water used in humidifying the air circulated through the incubator.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to vthe construction of the pan, and because the sides of the pan are 'substantially short, the device will be self-priming and quick acting.`

The'water drops onto theplate I0, from where it passes through the openings of the plate, contacting with the cloth material E, Due to capillary attraction, the water passes upwardly throughout the length of the cloth material I6, the rends of the cloth' material beingk forced outwardly due to the current of air directed up- Wardly thereto by the fan "VL By reducing the i quantity ofmoisture passing into the fan, the humidity may be regulated to meet Various requirements, and the moistening of the en-ds of the cloth material It, due to capillary attraction,

will be exceptionally rapid. vWhat is claimed is: y l. A humidier comprising a body portion having a central vertical passageway, an upwardly directed fan mounted at the bottom of the passageway, a tray suspended at the top of the pas sageway, a length of fabric material supported in the tray, the ends of the fabric material hanging over the sides of the tray and being free to swing upwardly under the action of the air from the fan, means for directing liquid to the tray to be absorbed by said fabric material, and said fan adapted to direct a blast of air against the overhanging ends of. the fabric material forcing moisture from the fabric material and directing the moisture upwardly through the passageway.

2. A humidifier comprising a body portion having a central Vertical passageway, a fan mounted at the bottom of the passageway and adapted to direct air upwardly through the passageway, a tray suspended at the top of the passageway, a length of fabric material supported in the tray, means in the tray adjacent to the center of the tray for holding the fabric material against the bottom of the tray, portions of the fabric material being inclined and'eXtended over the sides of the tray, the ends of the fabric material adapted to hang over the sides of the tray, means for directing liquid to the tray to be absorbed by the fabric material; and said fan adapted to direct a blast of air against the overhanging ends of the fabric material, spreading the overhanging ends to horizontal positions whereby the moisture in the fabric material may be picked up by the air blast and directed through the passageway. I

RALPH C. KOCHER. 

